race relations exam 1

race

a socially constructed category that groups people based on physical characteristics such as skin color, facial features, and hair texture, which influences social identity and relations.

ethnicity

a shared cultural identity based on common ancestry, language, traditions, and often religion, which shapes social interactions and group dynamics.

majority group

a dominant social group in society that holds power, privileges, and resources, often defining norms and values.

minority group

a social group that is marginalized or disadvantaged in comparison to the majority group, often lacking access to the same resources and privileges.

social construction

perceptions and ideas shared by a group that shape societal norms and categories.

stratification

the unequal distribution of valued goods and services in society; the social class system

theoretical perspectives on stratification

Marx:focused on class conflict between the bourgeoisie and proletariat, emphasizing economic factors in social stratification.

Weber: expanded on Marx's ideas by incorporating status and power, highlighting the complexity of social hierarchy beyond just economic factors.

intersectionality

the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender, which creates overlapping systems of discrimination or disadvantage.

ascribed status

a social status assigned at birth or involuntarily acquired, often based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, or family background.

institutional discrimination

a pattern of unequal treatment within institutions that disadvantages certain groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, or class.

social mobility

movement up and down the social class system

assimilation

the process by which individuals or groups adopt the cultural traits of another group, often leading to a loss of their original identity.

acculturation

the minority group adopts the dominant groups culturewhile still retaining elements of their original culture.

Anglo-conformity

a type of assimilation where immigrants are expected to conform to the cultural norms of the dominant Anglo-American society.

melting pot theory

the idea that diverse immigrant groups blend into a single, unified culture, creating a new identity while discarding individual differences.

race relations cycle

associated with Robert Park, the race relations cycle describes the process of competition, conflict, accommodation, and assimilation between racial and ethnic groups over time.

Gordon’s classic theory of assimilation

movement from to full assimilation into the dominant culture, emphasizing stages such as cultural, structural, and marital assimilation.

segmented assimilation

the idea that different immigrant groups assimilate into various segments of society, leading to diverse outcomes based on socioeconomic status, culture, and ethnicity.

pluralism

a social structure where multiple distinct ethnic or racial groups coexist while maintaining their unique cultural identities.

cultural pluralism

the coexistence of various cultural groups within a society, allowing for the preservation of their unique cultural identities while participating in the larger community.

structural pluralism

a form of pluralism where social institutions are organized in a way that supports the maintenance of distinct cultural identities, often leading to unequal access to resources and opportunities.

integration without assimilation

a process where diverse groups come together in a society while retaining their individual cultural identities, rather than merging into a single homogenous culture.

enclave minority group

establishes its own neighborhood and relies on interconnected businesses, each of which is usually small in scope for its economic survival

middleman minority group

groups that rely on interconnected businesses dispersed throughout a community for economic survival

comparison of Italian and Jewish immigration

examines the different experiences, challenges, and contributions of these two ethnic groups during their immigration to the United States, highlighting factors like assimilation, integration, and economic roles.

structural mobility

rising occupational and social class standing that us the result of changes in the overall structure of the economy and labor market as opposed individual efforts

intergenerational mobility

the ability of individuals or families to move up or down the social and economic ladder compared to their parents' status.

social structure

the organized pattern of social relationships and social institutions that together compose society.

symbolic racism

a subtle and indirect form of prejudice that incorporates negative feelings about minority groups but not the traditional stereotypes

principle of third-generation interest

the idea that grandchildren of immigrants often show a heightened interest in their ancestral culture and heritage compared to their parents (second generation), who may have focused on assimilating into the new society, leading to a renewed engagement with their ethnic background in the third generation

prejudice

peoples tendency to think and feel in negative ways about members of other groups

discrimination

when people treat someone differently because of the group to which they belong to

scapegoat hypothesis

a theory of prejudice that posits that under certain conditions people will express their aggressions against substitue targets when other groups chosen as substitue targets, prejudice increases

authoritarian personality

A theory that links prejudice to childhood experiences with stern, severe parents.

stereotype

Over-generalizations that are thought to apply to all members of a group.

socialization

The process of physical, psychological, and social development by which a person learns his or her culture.

split labor market

When the labor force is divided into a higher-paid segment composed of members of the dominant group and a lower-paid segment composed of minority-group members, higher-paid labor uses prejudice and racism to limit the ability of cheaper labor to compete for jobs

vicious cycle

A process in which a condition (e.g., minority group inferiority) is assumed to be true, and forces are then set in motion to create and perpetuate that condition.

social distance

The degree of intimacy a person is willing to accept with members of other groups.

contact hypothesis

A theory of prejudice reduction asserting that equal status and cooperative contacts between groups will tend to reduce prejudice

modern racism

A subtle and indirect form of prejudice that incorporates negative feelings about minority groups but not the traditional stereotypes.

hate crime

A criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by the offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.